Amazon is selling the electronic mat as part of its Black Friday deals

Similar to an electric shock collar, the touch sensitive device is used to train or control dogs and cats.

The technique is based on applying pain or the fear of pain to stop an unwanted behaviour.

In this case the mat prevents pets from going to protected areas in the house, like the bedroom or the baby's room.

But several animal charities have blasted the device saying it can be "dangerous" to use it for training.

Mimi Bekhechi from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) told the Sun Online: "It's downright dangerous to make animals live in fear of getting shocked for engaging in normal types of behaviour such as exploring inside their own homes.

"These sorts of devices can cause not only physical pain and even injury but also deep and lasting anxiety over the presence of an invisible enemy."

The indoor electronic mat for cats and dogs has three levels of voltage so users can adjust the strength of the shock to the size of their animal

Ms Bekhechi warned that there's always a chance that a mat could malfunction and deliver continuous or erratic electric shocks potentially injuring to the animal.

Julie Stone, from animal welfare charity Blue Cross, said that there is no evidence that shock devices give better results than using positive methods for training.

"We do know that causing pain to a dog or cat has a detrimental effect on the relationship between owner and pet and can cause unintended problems such as anxiety related behaviours," she added.

Scientific research shows electric shocks can cause pain, fear and stress in animals and use of these sorts of training aids can have a long-term negative effect, according to Lisa Richards, from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal (RSPCA).